Man was taking car for ‘test drive’, court hears

By Monique Preston

Jul 19, 2023

In court: An L-plater faced court after taking his car on a test drive. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

A man who was taking his car out for a test drive after getting it into running condition has faced court after being stopped by police.

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Riley O’Brien, 21, of Shepparton, pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to charges of being a learner driver without an appropriate supervisor, failing to produce a driver’s licence on request, failing to display front and rear L-plates, using an unregistered vehicle, and driving a vehicle without number plates.

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Brent O’Grady told the court police intercepted O’Brien driving a Toyota Corona on March 16 after spotting it being driven without any registration plates.

They discovered that O’Brien was a learner driver who did not have any L-plates on the car and his front-seat passenger was a P-plater.

The car was impounded at a cost of $1200.

The court was also told O’Brien did not have any prior court appearances.

O’Brien’s solicitor John McNamara told the court his client had bought the old car — a 1980s model — and had just got it into working condition himself.

“He took it for a test drive,” Mr McNamara said.

“He knows it was a ridiculous decision.”

O’Brien was fined $1500, but no conviction was recorded.